Pedal-action for grand pianos.



110.755,102. PATENTBD MAR. 22, 1904. W. c. BosBNBURY. PEDAL ACTION PoR GRAND PIANos.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 6. 1901.

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PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

W. C. BOSENBURY. PEDAL ACTION FOR GRAND PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 6, 1901.

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` UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

VILLIAM C. BOSENBURY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STARR PIANO COMPANY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

PEDAL-ACTION FOR GRAND PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,102, dated March 22, 1904.

Application led pril 6,1901.

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Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. BosENBURY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of IVayne and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Actions for Grand Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pedal-actions for musical instruments; and it is especially adapt- Io ed for use on grand pianos, substantially as herein set forth and shown.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and positive mechanism for controlling by their respective pedals the sostenuto, the

I 5 pianoforte loud, and the soft action of a piano, such as described. I attain these and other objects, which will appear from the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this speeiiicatioinin which-` Figure l represents my mechanism attached to the under side or bottom of a grand piano, being a plan view of my mechanism as though seen from above through the bottom of the piano. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the lyre of a grand piano, showing my improvements in connection therewith. This figure is taken from line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side View ofthe lyre of a grand piano, showing my improvements in connection therewith. This 3o figure is taken from the line Y Y of Fig. l. Figl is a detail View in front elevation of a part of the soft-pedal mechanism, showing the mode of attachment and operation. Fig. 5 is an end view of the part shown in Fig. A and taken from the line V V of that view. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of a part of the loud-pedal mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section of the parts shown in Fig. 6 and taken on the line Z Z of that view. Fig. 8 is a sectional 4o plan view of the pedals of a piano, taken from the line U U of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a detail side View of a part of the sostenuto mechanism.

Similar letters and gures of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. The letters of reference refer to the parts that are old, and the figures of reference refer to the parts that are new in the drawings and specification.

Referring now to the drawings, A repre- Serial No. 54,705. (No model.)

sents the under side or bottom of a grand s0 piano.

B represents the lyre as used in connection with a piano.

C represents the turned posts connecting the lyre with the bottom of the piano and suspending the lyre a short distance from thc floor of the Ioom in which it is contained.

ReferringV now to the essential parts, 50l represents the left-hand pedal, which operates the soft or low action of the piano.

50 represents the center pedal, or that pedal which operates the sostenuto.

50 represents the right-hand pedal, or that pedal which operates the loud mechanism of a piano.

51 represents cross-hatching on the outer upper face of all the pedals just referred to. This not only adds to the appearance of the pedals, but it presents a rough surface which comes into contact with the foot of the operator, thus preventing the foot of the operator from slippingI off the pedal.

52, 52, and 52" represent cupped-shaped depressions on the inner ends of all three of the pedals for the purpose which will hereinafter appear. l

53 represents cartridge-shaped members, one of each attached to each end of the rods 54@ 54H, and 54". The rounded ends of are adapted to work in the cup-shaped de- 8O pressions 52, 52, 52W, 58, 58, and 58.

54, 54, and 54/ represent rods, each end of which is supplied with the one of the members 53 connecting' the pedals 50', 50, and 50', respectively, to their respective mech- 85 anism secured to the bottom of the piano.

55 represents the pivots on which the pedals operate, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 and Fig. 8.

56 represents hangers or brackets used in- 90 terchangcably and in pairs for the purpose of pivotally mounting various parts of my mechanism to the bottom of the piano.

57 represents common screws adapted to pass through holes or slots provided in the parts 60, 61, and 62 for that purpose and then screwed into the bottom of the piano. The

purpose of said screws is to act as guides and to prevent said parts 60, 6l, and 62 from dropping farther down than is desired.

58', 58", and 58" represent cup-shaped depressions on the parts 60, 6l, and 62, respectively, for the purpose of engaging the parts 53 on the upper ends of the rods 54', 54E", and 54"', respectively, and are of like shape and forni as 6() represents a lever operated by the pedal for controlling the soft or mild tone of the pianoforte by means of the point of 60, (represented by 61 represents a double-armed lever operated by the pedal 50" for controlling the sostenuto of the pianoforte.

62 represents a lever operated by the pedal 50"' for controlling the pianoforte loud.

It can now be seen that should the pedal 50' be depressed by the foot of the operator pressingl on the cross-hatching 51 on the pedal 50' the rod 54' will be raised endwise, carrying the lever 6() to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, which gives the proper action to the part 60' to accomplish the object desired. lt is also apparent that should the pedal 50" be depressed by the foot ofthe operator pressing on the cross-hatching 5l on the pedal 50" the rod 54E" will be raised endwise, carrying the lever 61 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 9, which gives the proper action to the inner mechanism of the piano, and it is also apparent that should the pedal 50"' be depressed by the foot of the operator pressing on the cross-hatching 5l on the pedal 50"' the rod 54" will be raised endwise, carrying the lever 62 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, which gives the proper action to the inner mechanism of the piano.

The extent of the action imparted by the various pedals to the various levers referred to can be controlled and adjusted by means of the screws 57.

I have found it advantageous to cross-hatch the outer flaring ends of my pedals, as shown particularly in Fig. 8. by the numeral 5l. This not only adds to the appearance of the pedal, but it is an actual benefit in that it prevents the foot of the operator from slipping on the pedal.

From the foregoingdescription, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of this invention will be readily understood, and its many advantages will be fuliy appreciated, andI will simply state that the invention herein shown and described is by reason of its simplicity, attractiveness, and ease and efficiency of operation a useful and practical invention, as h as been fully demonstrated.

My improvements as herein shown and described are perfectly adapted to accomplish the results which they are intended to accomplish; but it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein shown and described may be made and that analogous parts may be used to accomplish the same results without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages.

Having shown and described the best construction of my improvements to me known at this time, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1n a pedal-action for pianos, the combina tion with a pivoted pedal having a cup-shaped recess formed therein, of a lever consisting in part of a body portion, pintles on the ends of said body portion, brackets secured to the under side of the piano adapted to support the lever by the pintles, oppositely-eurved arms extending out from near the ends of said body portion, one of said arms provided with a slot and both provided with recesses, a vertical rod adapted to engage one of said arms and the pedal, the other arm adapted to act as an operating-lever, and a screw engaging said slot and adapted to adjustably limit the downward movement of said arms.

In witness whereof l. have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VILLAM C. BOSENBURY.

Titnessesr 1 W. HANDLE, R. E. RANDLE. 

